DES MOINES, IA – Zane McIntyre delivered an early Christmas present for fans on Friday evening, stopping 27 shots to lead the Iowa Wild to a 3-1 victory over the Manitoba Moose. Three different players scored goals for Iowa and Sammy Walker added two assists.

The game was scoreless through the first 18 minutes, but Manitoba scored on the power-play with 1:52 left in the first period to give the Moose the lead heading into the locker room. Jeff Malott took a shot that McIntyre saved, but Nikita Chibrikov put in the rebound for his ninth goal of the year.

The Wild were shut down by Manitoba goaltender Collin Delia in the first, but responded with three goals in the second to take a commanding lead. Maxim Cajkovic tied the score 2:18 into the frame when he netted his first goal of the year. Walker picked the pocket of a Manitoba defensemen inside the Moose zone. He then fed Cajkovic, who blasted a one-time or by the glove of Delia.

The game remained tied until 14:28 when Steven Fogarty gave his team the lead. A terrible breakout pass in front of the net allowed Fogarty to gain control, lifting a backhand past the Moose netminder for his fifth a tally of the year.

Nic Petan closed out the scoring when he scored his eighth goal of the season with just five seconds left in the period. Iowa was on the power-play when Walker made a pass to the right face-off circle where Petan lifted a wrist shot past the blocker of Delia and in to make it 3-1.

Manitoba put the pressure on in the third period, outshooting Iowa 11-6. However, McIntyre was brilliant, stopping the remaining 20 shots he faced in the contest and finishing with 27 saves overall. The victory was the first of the season for McIntyre who is now 1-6-2 with a 3.43 goals-against average.

These two teams will square off again on Saturday. The puck drops at 6:00.

Gamesheet

by Robert Pannier